1. In the space below, describe the stasis at the beginning of Trifles. In other words, “Where are we?” “When is it (time, day, and year)?” “Who are the people involved?” “What is the dramatic situation in which the characters find themselves as the play unfolds?” The play occurs in a farmhouse located in the Midwest during the winter season of the 1900s. The characters that were mentioned in this play were Mrs. Hale, Mrs. Peters, county attorney, Lewis Hale, Sheriff Henry Peters, and Mrs. Wright. Last, the dramatic situation the characters find themselves in is identifying who's Mr. Wright actual killer was.
2. What is the intrusion that causes the stasis to be broken and the dramatic action to develop, often at an increasingly rapid pace, to the end of the play? The intrusion occurs when Mrs. Hale and Mrs.Peters found the dead bird that seemed it was killed by being strangled.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor which is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place? The play takes place during the winter season because it display the cold of the lack of warmth the house displayed/provided. Also the play mostly takes place at the kitchen of the house, which emphasize the female role during that time period.
4. State the dramatic question or questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.) Who actually killed Mr.Wright?
5. Use Ms. Hale to answer the questions concerning character. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, that is the dramatic actions that are taken. Examine what the character wants (NOTE: In Trifles the wants of Ms. Hale change as the play progresses). The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that demonstrate these obstacles for Ms. Hale. I believe Mrs. Hale struggled from "me against society" throughout most of the play. In the play, it seems like Mrs.Hale was against patriarchal society.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Trifles. The most theatrical moment in Trifles was when Mrs. Peter and Mrs.Hale found the dead birds in the cabinet of the kitchen. At that moment, it caused the reader to actual question if she was the killer or not.
7. Provide at least three examples of images in Trifles. How does the title of the play help us understand the images in the play? (Remember Ball says that, “An image is the use of something we know that tells us something we don’t know.” He goes on to say that images invoke and expand, rather than define and limit.”) The rocking chair was important because it provide a constant reminder of Mr. Wright death. The dead bird represents the anger and frustration Mrs. Wright had against her husband, Mr.Wright. Last, the messy kitchen depicts the lack of warmth in the house and the craziness in Mrs.Wright's life.
8. Ordinarily, there are many themes in most plays. List the themes in Trifles. Masculinity Gender Roles Women Rights
9. Most American plays have something to do with family and/or family relationships. What does family have to do with Trifles? Is family redefined in Trifles? I believe Trifles depicts how important the bond between family is suppose to be, and it displays the effect of having a bad connection between a family.
The play occurs in a farmhouse located in the Midwest during the winter season of the 1900s. The characters that were mentioned in this play were Mrs. Hale, Mrs. Peters, county attorney, Lewis Hale, Sheriff Henry Peters, and Mrs. Wright. Last, the dramatic situation the characters find themselves in is identifying who's Mr. Wright actual killer was.
2. What is the intrusion that causes the stasis to be broken and the dramatic action to develop, often at an increasingly rapid pace, to the end of the play?
The intrusion occurs when Mrs. Hale and Mrs.Peters found the dead bird that seemed it was killed by being strangled.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor which is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place?
The play takes place during the winter season because it display the cold of the lack of warmth the house displayed/provided. Also the play mostly takes place at the kitchen of the house, which emphasize the female role during that time period.
4. State the dramatic question or questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.)
Who actually killed Mr.Wright?
5. Use Ms. Hale to answer the questions concerning character. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, that is the dramatic actions that are taken. Examine what the character wants (NOTE: In Trifles the wants of Ms. Hale change as the play progresses). The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that demonstrate these obstacles for Ms. Hale.
I believe Mrs. Hale struggled from "me against society" throughout most of the play. In the play, it seems like Mrs.Hale was against patriarchal society.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Trifles.
The most theatrical moment in Trifles was when Mrs. Peter and Mrs.Hale found the dead birds in the cabinet of the kitchen. At that moment, it caused the reader to actual question if she was the killer or not.
7. Provide at least three examples of images in Trifles. How does the title of the play help us understand the images in the play? (Remember Ball says that, “An image is the use of something we know that tells us something we don’t know.” He goes on to say that images invoke and expand, rather than define and limit.”)
The rocking chair was important because it provide a constant reminder of Mr. Wright death. The dead bird represents the anger and frustration Mrs. Wright had against her husband, Mr.Wright. Last, the messy kitchen depicts the lack of warmth in the house and the craziness in Mrs.Wright's life.
8. Ordinarily, there are many themes in most plays. List the themes in Trifles.
Masculinity
Gender Roles
Women Rights
9. Most American plays have something to do with family and/or family relationships. What does family have to do with Trifles? Is family redefined in Trifles?
I believe Trifles depicts how important the bond between family is suppose to be, and it displays the effect of having a bad connection between a family.